In a concerning incident that has drawn the attention of federal aviation authorities, a Southwest Airlines flight took off from a closed runway in Maine, prompting an immediate investigation. NTSB and the FAA have stated they will investigate what led to this unusual takeoff.
The incident happened earlier this week when Southwest Flight 4805 took off from a closed runway at Portland International Jetport in Maine. According to the FAA, an automobile driven by an airport employee drove off the runway just before the Southwest flight began its takeoff roll, about 5:45 a.m. local time Tuesday.
This has raised severe safety concerns, as taking off from a closed runway could lead to catastrophic results. The fact that the one that took off from the closed runway was a Southwest flight has prompted investigators to investigate its procedures and communication protocols with the air traffic control authorities.
Southwest Airlines said it will cooperate with the NTSB and FAA to investigate the circumstances that led to this incident. The airline said that after the Southwest Airlines flight took off from a closed runway, it continued safely to Baltimore.
This is not the first time in recent months that Southwest Airlines has put itself under the spotlight of being scrutinised by authorities. The FAA is investigating other incidents involving Southwest flights after:
1. Mid-air drama unfolded when a commercial flight, approaching an Oklahoma City airport, suddenly dropped to an altitude of about 500 feet, which is quite a dangerous height for flying. Passengers reported that the plane suddenly dropped down very fast. The pilot regained control, stabilising the aircraft before it landed safely.
2. In yet another critical incident, a Boeing 737 MAX flight experienced severe turbulence at an altitude of 34,000 ft. The pilots acted quickly, and remedial action was taken to stabilise the rolling motion of the aircraft. No one was injured in the incident, though it was a cause for concern over the handling qualities of the Boeing 737 MAX, an aircraft model under close scrutiny due to previous safety issues.
3. Another incident involved a 737 MAX 8 flight that was executing a go-around off Hawaii. In doing so, it overshot its intended altitude and came uncomfortably close to the ocean surface. Witnesses described the plane, descending precariously before the pilot executed a hard climb to keep the aircraft out of the water.
Coupled with the latest case in which a Southwest Airlines flight took off from a closed runway, these incidents have caused calls for the overall review of this airline’s safety practices and its pilot training procedures.
As this investigation into why the Southwest flight took off from a closed runway continues, aviation experts underline strict adherence to runway protocols and better communication between the air traffic controllers, and pilots. Preliminary findings could mean stricter control and enforcement of runway usage policies on many fronts in the future.
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This incident is a shocking reminder of the paramount importance of runway safety and possible consequences of procedural lapses in aviation operations. As further investigations progress on this case by the NTSB and FAA, it is hoped their eventual findings and recommendations will prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Glossary: NTSB – National Transportation Safety Board
FAA – Federal Aviation Administration